B.S. Peking University (1983) M.S. Peking University (1986) Ph.D. Iowa State University (1994) Lecturer, Tsinghua University (1986-89) Postdoctoral Research Associate, Harvard University (1994-97) Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory (1997-99)

Biological/Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry

The focus of our research is to study how proteins fold from random or quasi-random coils to their biologically functional conformations. We are particularly interested in the kinetic aspects of the folding mechanisms. Novel laser spectroscopic methods are being used and developed to study the early folding events and folding intermediates.

p-Cyanophenylalanine and Selenomethionine Constitute a Useful Fluorophore-Quencher Pair for Short Distance Measurements: Application to Polyproline Peptides. Mintzer, M. R.; Troxler, T.; Gai, F. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015. DOI: 10.1039/C5CP00050E

Site-Specific Infrared Probes of Proteins. Ma, J.; Pazos, I. M.; Zhang, W.; Culik, R. M.; Gai, F. Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem. 2015, 66, 357-377. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-040214-121802

Tuning the Attempt Frequency of Protein Folding Dynamics via Transition-State Rigidification: Application to Trp-Cage. Abaskharon, R. M.; Culik, R. M.; Woolley, G. A.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6, 521-526. DOI: 10.1021/jz502654q

Tightening up the Structure, Lighting up the Pathway: Application of Molecular Constraints and Light to Manipulate Protein Folding, Self-Assembly and Function. Markiewicz, B. M.; Culik, R. M.; Gai, F. Sci. China: Chem. 2014, 57, 1615-1624. DOI: 10.1007/s11426-014-5225-5

Experimental Validation of the Role of Trifluoroethanol as a Nano-Crowder. Culik, R. M.; Abaskharon, R. M.; Pazos, I. M.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2014, 118, 11455-11461. DOI:10.1021/jp508056w

2D IR Spectroscopy Reveals the Role of Water in the Binding of Channel-Blocking Drugs to the Influenza M2 Channel. Ghosh, A.; Wang, J.; Moroz, Y. S.; Korendovych, I. V.; Zanni, M.; DeGrado, W. F.; Gai, F.; Hochstrasser, R. M. J. Chem. Phys. 2014, 140, 235105-235109. DOI: 10.1063/1.4881188

Microscopic Insights into the Protein-Stabilizing Effect of TMAO. Ma, J.; Pazos, I. M.; Gai, F. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2014, 111, 8476-8481. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1403224111

Ester Carbonyl Vibration as a Sensitive Probe of Protein Local Electric Field. Pazos, I. M.; Ghosh, A.; Tucker, M. J.; Gai, F. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 1-6. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201402011

How Quickly Can a Beta-Hairpin Fold from its Transition State? Markiewicz, B. N.; Yang, L.; Culik, R. M.; Gao, Y. Q.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2014 DOI: 10.1021/jp500774q

2D IR Spectroscopy of Histidine: Probing Sidechain Structure and Dynamics via Backbone Amide I Vibration. Ghosh, A.; Tucker, M. J.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2014 DOI: 10.1021/jp411901m

Aggregation Gatekeeper and Controlled Assembly of Trpzip Beta-Hairpins. Markiewicz, B. N.; Oyola, R.; Du, D. G.; Gai, F. Biochemistry 2014, 53, 1146-1154. DOI: 10.1021/bi401568a

Slow Folding-Unfolding Kinetics of an Octameric Beta-Peptide Bundle. Montalvo, G. L.; Gai, F.; Roder, H.; DeGrado, W. F. ACS Chem. Biol. 2014, 9, 276-281. DOI: 10.1021/cb400621y

Slow and Bimolecular Folding of a De Novo Designed Monomeric Protein DS119. Zhu, C.; Dai, Z. W.; Liang, H. H.; Zhang, T.; Gai, F.; Lai, L. H. Biophys. J. 2013, 105, 2141-2148. DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2013.09.014

Using VIPT-Jump to Distinguish Between Different Folding Mechanisms: Application to BBL and a Trpzip. Lin, C. W.; Culik, R. M.; Gai, F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 7668-7673. DOI:10.1021/ja401473m

A Simple Method to Enhance the Photostability of the Fluorescence Reporter R6G for Prolonged Single-Molecule Studies. Guo, L.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, 6164-6170. DOI:10.1021/jp4003643

Using D-Amino Acids to Delineate the Mechanism of Protein Folding: Application to Trp-Cage. Culik, R. M.; Annavarapu, S.; Nanda, V.; Gai, F. Chem. Phys. 2013, 422, 131-134. DOI:10.1016/j.chemphys.2013.01.021

Quenching of p-Cyanophenylalanine Fluorescence by Various Anions. Pazos, I. M.; Roesch, R. M.; Gai, F. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2013, 563, 93-96. DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2013.02.015

Amide I Band and Photoinduced Disassembly of a Peptide Hydrogel. Measey, T. J.; Markiewicz, B. N.; Gai, F. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2013, 580, 135-140. DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2013.06.055

Assessment of Local Friction in Protein Folding Dynamics Using a Helix Cross-Linker. Markiewicz, B. N.; Jo, H.; Culik, R. M.; DeGrado, W. F.; Gai, F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2013, 117, 14688-14696. DOI:10.1021/jp409334h

Light-Triggered Disassembly of Amyloid Fibrils. Measey, T. J.; Gai F. Langmuir 2012, 28, 12588-12592. DOI: 10.1021/la302626d